A METHOD FOR IMPROVING A WORKING TOP AND A COVERING TOP TO BE USED THEREBY

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving a working top (1) in an existing kitchen, whereby a covering top having a covering edge (2) engaging over the front edge of the existing working top is attached by means of a suitable adhesive on top of the existing working top. Use may be made of a covering top comprising a horizontal part, which is joined at its front edge by a covering edge projecting under said horizontal part, whilst a water barrier is located near the transition between the horizontal part and the covering edge.

Description: A method for improving a working top and a covering top to be used thereby. The invention relates to a method for improving a working top in an existing kitchen. The average life of a common so-called built-in kitchen is around fifteen years. Because of the intensive use that is made of it the working top is generally the part that is first considered for renewal, especially due to wear and damage, whilst in many cases the working top itself no longer meets the requirements that are currently made of such a working top. Also from an optical point of view the working top is generally dated after some time. Replacing a working top by a new one is a difficult and costly affair, however. In many cases the tiles fitted on the wall part above the working top must be removed first. Then the closely fitting, tailor-made working top must usually be sawn into pieces and/or parts of the kitchen cabinets under the working top have to be removed. When subsequently a new working top is fitted, new tiles will have to be set and finished. In view of the cost involved and the attendant inconvenience the replacement of a working top is usually delayed as long as possible, and possibly it is even decided to replace the built-in kitchen as a whole, whilst generally it would suffice to replace the working top and the hotplate and/or sink (combination) mounted therein. The complete replacement of the built-in kitchen in such a case constitutes an unnecessary waste of materials, whilst furthermore the discharge of the old built-in kitchen in the form of waste may become increasingly costly in the future. According to the invention a covering top having a covering edge engaging over the front edge of the existing working top is fitted on top of the existing working top. By using the method according to the invention a prefabricated covering top can be fitted over the existing working top in a simple and quick manner, whilst unnecessary structural disturbance can be avoided thereby. The working top can be readily adapted to the dimensions of a new hotplate and/or sink (combination) which may be fitted as well. Because of the simple manner in which a new covering top can be fitted it is furthermore readily possible to adapt the colour of the working top according to current tastes and fashion, without high costs being involved. The widths of usual working tops generally range from 550 to 620 mm. Starting from a covering top having a width of ± 640 mm, the width of the covering top is according to the invention adapted to the width of the existing working top. This makes it possible to use a standard covering top for a wide variety of kitchens. The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to the accompanying Figures. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a covering top to be provided on top of an existing working top. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the rear wall of the covering top, with a section being mounted thereon and a vertically upright cover wall being placed in said section. The covering top 1 illustrated in Figure 1 is at its front side provided with a covering edge 2 projecting under the covering top. Near the transition between the horizontal top part and the covering edge 2 an elevation 3 is provided, as a result of which water present on the covering top is prevented from flowing from the covering top, which is made in one piece, when the covering top is being used. Preferably the upper side of the covering top is formed by a plate 4 consisting of a laminate of plastic material compressed under high pressure, which is bonded to a ± 5 mm thick fibreboard 5 of a water-repellent quality. At its bottom side the covering top 1 is covered by a water-repellent top layer 6. The material of the upper plate 4 may be supplied in various colours, structures and material imitations, so that the appearance of the covering top can be readily adapted to changing tastes and fashions. The total thickness of the layers 4, 5 and 6 is ± 8 mm, whilst the covering edge 2 extends over a height of ± 42 mm under the horizontally extending part of the covering top, so that the total height b of the covering top is ± 52 mm. The width of the usual working tops generally ranges from 550 to 620 mm. Consequently a width a of ± 640 mm is preferred for the covering top. Starting from a standard covering top of this type the width of the covering top can be readily adapted to the size of the existing working top to be covered. A covering top of this type, which is illustrated in Figure 1, is factory-made to standard lengths or to size, but it may also be made to size by professionals or by do-it-yourselfers in accordance with the existing working top to be covered. If made to size, the covering top may for example be fixed to the existing working top by means of a cement, whereby the covering edge 2 covers the front edge of the existing working top. Any openings for the sink (combination), hotplate and the like can likewise be readily provided in the working top. The upper plate 4 of the covering top according to the invention can be maintained and cleaned in a simple manner when using the material referred to above. Furthermore the use of water-repellent fibreboard and the water-repellent top layer 6 will render the new covering top substantially insensitive to the action of moisture. In an efficient embodiment of the method for fitting a new covering top use is made of section 7 shown in Figure 2, which comprises a vertically upright web 8 joined by a horizontal leg 9 at its bottom edge. A leg 10 extending parallel to the horizontal leg 9 joins said web at some distance above said leg 9. At its end remote from said web the leg 10 is provided with a nose 11 projecting above the leg 10. Section 7 may be moved onto a rear edge of the covering top 1 directed towards a wall in the manner illustrated in Figure 2, such that said rear edge of the covering top will come to lie between the two legs 9 and 10, whilst the web 8 will for example abut against existing tilework or another wall finish. The bottom end of a covering wall 12 may then be placed between said web 8 and the projecting nose 11 in order to cover existing (dated) tilework or the like. The covering wall 12 may thereby be made of the same material and have the same colour as the covering top 1. It will be apparent that by using the above-described construction the part of an existing kitchen that generally becomes dated or is damaged soonest, i.e. the working top, can be given a new appearance in a simple manner, as a result of which the life of the entire built-in kitchen can be extended considerably.

Claims: CLAIMS. 1. A method for improving a working top in an existing kitchen, characterized in that a covering top having a covering edge engaging over the front edge of the existing working top is fitted on top of the existing working top. 2. Amethod according to claim 1, characterized in that, starting from a covering top having a width of ± 640 mm, the width of the covering top is adapted to the width of the existing working top. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a section is fitted over the rear edge of the covering top directed towards a wall when the covering top is being installed, and in that a bottom end of an upright covering wall is placed in a recess provided in the section on the covering top. 4. A covering top for a working top, in particular intended for use with the method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said covering top comprises a horizontal part, which is joined at its front edge by a covering edge projecting under said horizontal part, whilst a water barrier is located near the transition between the horizontal part and the covering edge. 5. A covering top according to claim 4, characterized in that said covering top is built up of a plate-shaped upper layer of a laminate of plastic material compressed under high pressure, which is bonded to a fibreboard of a water-repellent quality. 6. A covering top according to claim 5, characterized in that said fibreboard is at its bottom side provided with a water- repellant top layer having a thickness of ± 1 mm. 7. A covering top according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that said plate-shaped top layer has a thickness of ± 1 mm and that the thickness of said fibreboard is ± 6 mm. 8. A covering top according to any one of the claims 4 - 7, characterized in that the total height of the covering top near the covering edge is ± 52 mm. 9. A covering top according to claim 4, characterized in that the width of the covering top is ± 640 mm.

Inventors: KERS EVERT JAN MARINUS, KERS, EVERT, JAN, MARINUS
Applicants: ALMANOVA WERKMEUBEL IND, KERS EVERT JAN MARINUS, ALMANOVA WERKMEUBEL INDUSTRIE B.V., KERS, EVERT, JAN, MARINUS
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A47B77
IPC codes: A47B77